The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Sigh. Chen Dong sighed inwardly. He didn't harbor any particular feelings for 'the Eight Immortals'; he just felt he was an innocent victim in this whole affair.

"How did you know I was coming back and lie in ambush there for me?"

At that moment, Chen Dong felt a Divine Sense focus on him. 'It must be that Gu Chuan Zhenren.' If he were only facing these Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, he might still have a chance to escape. But with the addition of Gu Chuan, a Golden Core Cultivator, escape was absolutely impossible.

So, Chen Dong asked, "If I come back with you quietly, can you guarantee my safety?"

Zhou Zeyuan hurriedly replied, "Of course, I can guarantee it."

"Your words mean nothing!"

Zhou Zeyuan's eyes narrowed. "Master Chen, I can't offer you a real guarantee at this moment. However, I can assure you that we won't resort to any forceful means!"

Chen Dong scoffed inwardly. 'And this isn't forceful?' But the Divine Sense was still fixed on him, so Chen Dong had no choice but to yield.

"Alright! I'll go with you. But I have one question first. How did you know I would return and lie in wait there for me?"

Zhou Zeyuan smiled. "It was just a guess. We made some inquiries in Drunken Immortal City and found out you hadn't gone to the Qixia Sect. So we gambled that you might come back here. To our surprise, you showed up after we'd only been lying in wait for a few days."

With that, Zhou Zeyuan gestured respectfully. "After you!"

The seven cultivators surrounded Chen Dong, and together they flew slowly toward the Xiayun River.

They landed before a grim, ancient temple situated along the river.

Zhou Zeyuan turned to Chen Dong. "Master Chen, please follow me."

Once they arrived, the others no longer seemed worried about Chen Dong escaping, as they did not follow him inside.

He followed Zhou Zeyuan into the main hall of the ancient temple, where a tall but emaciated 'skeleton' stood waiting. It wasn't actually a skeleton, of course—just an old man so thin he resembled one. Despite his gauntness, he stood perfectly straight, his expression severe.

Upon seeing the old man, Zhou Zeyuan dropped subserviently to one knee. "Master, I have brought the man!"

The old man raised a hand that was all skin and bone, acknowledging him.

He then sized up Chen Dong. "Your aura is dense, your cultivation full. You must be on the verge of Foundation Establishment!"

Chen Dong knew this man was the owner of the Divine Sense that had been locked onto him. However, since he was wearing the Spiritual Artifact from Mu Qingzhu that defended against Divine Sense, Chen Dong wasn't afraid of being scrutinized.

Bowing in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing, Chen Dong said, "Greetings, Gu Chuan Zhenren. For what reason have you summoned this junior?"

"You were able to replicate the first and second stages of the Drunken Immortal Brew in a very short time. I wonder, can you also replicate the third stage?"

Chen Dong said thoughtfully, "I'll need time to research it. I'll also require a great number of Elixir Formula Medical Books. Given enough time, creating the third stage shouldn't be difficult."

'This was the response Chen Dong had prepared. He couldn't say no. With his abysmal luck, if he claimed it was impossible, they'd probably just kill him on the spot for being useless. But he couldn't agree too readily, either. That would make his talent seem too monstrous. They would not only bleed him dry but might even use some special method to control him.'

"Very well. From now on, you will live in this temple. Zhou Zeyuan will bring you anything you require. I want the third stage of the Drunken Immortal Brew developed within ten days."

Over the following days, Chen Dong took up residence in the ancient temple. Besides Gu Chuan Zhenren, his only company was two of the master's Late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples. Chen Dong saw no one else.

And Zhou Zeyuan was remarkably efficient. He not only delivered plenty of medicinal ingredients, fine vintage wine, and Elixir Formula Medical Books, but he even provided six Golden Core Stage elixir formulas—things Chen Dong had never laid eyes on before.

In just ten days, Chen Dong furiously studied the Wangyou Realm's alchemy, marveling at what he learned. 'As expected of a world where Spiritual Qi is more active than back home.' The complexity of the elixir ingredients here, at the Golden Core Stage, was astounding compared to the Profound Pill Realm's equivalent. Lost in his obsessive research, the ten days passed in a flash.

As Chen Dong waited, the skeletal Gu Chuan Zhenren approached his room, accompanied by a young cultivator with unusually colored hair and eyes.

The cultivator had short blue hair and blue eyes, and his aura was even more formidable than Gu Chuan Zhenren's. He stared at Chen Dong and asked coldly, "You are Chen Dong?"

Chen Dong nodded. 'This man is undoubtedly another Golden Core Cultivator.'

"Where is the third stage of the replicated Drunken Immortal Brew?"

Chen Dong presented a wine jar he had prepared the day before.

The young cultivator lifted the jar without hesitation and took a large gulp, completely unafraid that Chen Dong might have tampered with it.

"Impressive. The taste and potency are nearly identical!"

At this, Gu Chuan Zhenren spoke in a surprisingly fawning tone, "Congratulations, Daoist, on obtaining such a talent! With him, we'll have an endless stream of wealth, comparable to excavating a massive Spirit Stone Vein!"

'What? A Daoist!'

Alarm bells instantly shrieked in Chen Dong's mind. 'Mu Qingzhu just told me a Daoist had emerged from seclusion, and I've already run into him?'

The blue-haired Daoist's lips curved into a slight smile as he asked Chen Dong, "What's the production cost of this wine?"

Chen Dong didn't answer, bowing instead. "If I may ask, to which sect does the Daoist belong?"

Gu Chuan Zhenren froze, then said in astonishment, "You don't recognize Daoist Zhang Jun?"

When Chen Dong heard the name was Zhang Jun, he relaxed. He then gave a casual shake of his head.

"Zhang Jun, the current Daoist of the Yun Gu Sect! He possesses the Thunder Toad bloodline, and his lightning arts are powerful enough to shatter armies! And you've never heard of him?" Gu Chuan Zhenren boasted shamelessly.

Chen Dong bowed again and replied, "My apologies. This one is ignorant. I don't know any of the five great Daoists!"